Surly Joe

Surly Joe (1814-1873) was an American outlaw of the Wild West. In April 1873, he first sat at the Frenchman's Gulch saloon in Arizona, playing stud and Texas Hold 'Em; he never took to anyone, and only his brother Jimmy Townley cared for him. Later that year, he drew a gun on gambler Buster Scruggs after Scruggs refused to sit down and play his unlucky hand, and Scruggs warned him that his bringing a gun into the saloon was a violation of house policy and local norms. When Joe cocked his gun, Scruggs kicked a loose plank on the table, knocking Joe's arm upwards and causing him to accidentally shoot himself three times in the forehead, killing him. Shortly after, Scruggs killed Jimmy in a duel outside of the saloon.